Kenyan hockey tour of N.Z. cancelled

Press, 16 April 1979, Page 13

Kenyan hockey tour of N.Z. cancelled

The hockey public in four New Zealand centres will be denied their first opportunity to see Kenya, regarded as one of the top eight teams in the world, in action next month.

The four-match tour by Kenya, scheduled to commence on May 2, was cancelled this week by the New Zealand Hockey Association after the Kenyans had failed, even with 12 hours grace given on the deadline, to confirm acceptances of the itinerary.

After having advised their original arrival date, the Kenyans came back, with New" Zealand arrangements well in hand, to say that they would now arrive two days later and would stay three days longer.

‘This was unacceptable, with all our arrangements well in hand, so we cabled for them to confirm the original arrangements or the tour would be off,” said the secretary of the New Zealand association, (Mr A. W.

Barrett). “There was no cable by the day after our deadline so we simply cancelled the tour.” The tour of matches in Christchurch, Palmerston North, Whangarei, and Auckland would have cost the national association between $2500 and $3OOO, even allowing for guarantees from the host associations.

“The next possibility is Ireland in late October” said Mr Barrett. “They are going to Australia and hopefully will come on here for 10 to 12 days and four or five games, including two tests." The New Zealand team at present touring Australia has followed its draw with Queensland with an impressive 4-0 win against a fullstrength New South Wales side at Mosman Oval on Thursday after a powerful first-half effort.

The New Zealand captain, Tony Ineson, said the ability of his team to retain possession of the ball for long periods was the key to success.

Another feature of the tourists’ play was their superb defensive work in picking up the loose ball from New South Wales.

Five players who were members of the 1976 New Zealand side which won the Olympic gold medal at Montreal turned in top-class games. They were Arthur Parkin, Ramesh Patel, John Christensen, Alan Chesney, and Ineson. Patel at inside-left, Parkin at centre-forward, and Christensen at inside-right all displayed superb ball control, with the goal-keeper, Les Wilson, and Chesney at lefthalf showing top defensive work.

New South Wales lacked match practice and made many errors compared with its opponent. The home side was best served by its right-half, Bob Hollywood, the experienced centre-forward, Ron Riley the right-wing, Larry Mclntosh, lan Cooke at left back, and Geoff Hayes at left wing.